Councilman: Tuscaloosa City Schools' image needs to improve

Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Paul McKendrick is seen in this May 2012 file photo. If the Tuscaloosa City Schools has any hope of voter support to renew a 6-mill ad valorem tax for school construction in 2016, it must change its public perception. That point was driven home by Councilman Lee Garrison during a two-hour joint meeting of the City Council and the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Thursday night.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:51 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | If the Tuscaloosa City Schools has any hope of voter support to renew a 6-mill ad valorem tax for school construction in 2016, it must change its public perception.

That point was driven home by Councilman Lee Garrison during a two-hour joint meeting of the City Council and the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Thursday night.

“I think the people have a pretty positive view now of the city of Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama,” the councilman said, “but one of the things we've (got to do) is get the city school system to that level.

“I really would like to see some bold things, and some of those things may be uncomfortable.”

Garrison said he favored renewal of the tax, which he believes will be critical not only the Tuscaloosa City Schools, but to the Tuscaloosa city and county governments, as well.

Board of Education member Kelly Horwitz countered with a variety of methods that the board and city schools employees have used to combat the community perception that the school system is failing.

These include visits to systems and schools that have transformed themselves into successful programs, such as George Hall Elementary School in Mobile.

The Mobile school was ranked among the worst in Alabama less than a decade ago, but after ­undergoing a transformation process that allowed the new principal to entirely rebuild the school's staff, it was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the best elementary schools in the country.

“We are tackling (these issues) one-by-one and as quickly as possible,” Horwitz said.

Garrison, Mayor Walt Maddox and other city officials ­acknowledged that they were unaware of the lengths the school board was going to reform Tuscaloosa city schools.

“Hopefully, 2015 and 2016 will be the time we see the results of some of the things you're doing,” Garrison said.

One key element of these changes is the transition next year to the Common Core system, a national standard for school curricula that was created by the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers to better prepare graduating high school students for either college or the modern workforce.

The city schools must engage this plan for the next school year after the Alabama Department of Education held two votes to adopt it, the second of which carried opposition from Gov. Robert Bentley.

Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Paul McKendrick along with Elisabeth Davis, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and others praised the Common Core plan, saying it stripped away some of the confusion that now comes with certain diploma paths and that it institutes new ways of learning for students in all grades.

The council heard a detailed overview of the plan from ­McKendrick and Davis. Some elements of the plan came as a surprise to certain council members.

Among these was the elimination of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, which will be administered to no graduating senior by the 2014-15 year. Instead, the students will be required to pass a series of end-of-course exams throughout high school while maintaining a certain level of academic performance in order to earn an honors, or advanced, diploma.

“With the new diplomas, there are no high-stakes tests involved,” Davis said, referring to the graduation exam.

Maddox said he was concerned about how the new Common Core curriculum would prepare career tech students in fields such as welding or drafting. His particular interest was whether the city schools would be adequately preparing a workforce for the growing automotive manufacturing and supply business that Tuscaloosa is nurturing.

City schools officials said the new curriculum was designed to prepare career tech students better than the existing curriculum, but the mayor did not say he was convinced and requested additional information about the program.

Maddox also was concerned with ensuring that middle school students, who are expected to face a much tougher curriculum next year than this one, do not fall behind.

“We have some tools to use and some strategies, but it's not going to happen overnight,” Davis told him. “It's going to take years, for both students and teachers.”

Additionally, both governmental agencies used the meeting to update the other on their respective plans for the new Alberta Elementary School.

City Hall is in the process of acquiring land for the school, which includes the use of the City Council's eminent domain powers when an agreement with the current property owner cannot be reached.

The school system is in the process of designing the new school, complete with an ambitious performing arts center and a parking lot of more than 300 spaces to accommodate it.

However, no feasibility study has been conducted to show how much operational costs, maintenance work and other requirements will go into the new center once it's built. Maddox offered to share all the information the city generated when it conducted its own feasibility study for the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.

“Two years ago, the city built a $16 million amphitheater,” Maddox told the board. “And it's a continual work in progress.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | If the Tuscaloosa City Schools has any hope of voter support to renew a 6-mill ad valorem tax for school construction in 2016, it must change its public perception.</p><p>That point was driven home by Councilman Lee Garrison during a two-hour joint meeting of the City Council and the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Thursday night.</p><p>“I think the people have a pretty positive view now of the city of Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama,” the councilman said, “but one of the things we've (got to do) is get the city school system to that level.</p><p>“I really would like to see some bold things, and some of those things may be uncomfortable.”</p><p>Garrison said he favored renewal of the tax, which he believes will be critical not only the Tuscaloosa City Schools, but to the Tuscaloosa city and county governments, as well.</p><p>Board of Education member Kelly Horwitz countered with a variety of methods that the board and city schools employees have used to combat the community perception that the school system is failing.</p><p>These include visits to systems and schools that have transformed themselves into successful programs, such as George Hall Elementary School in Mobile.</p><p>The Mobile school was ranked among the worst in Alabama less than a decade ago, but after ­undergoing a transformation process that allowed the new principal to entirely rebuild the school's staff, it was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the best elementary schools in the country.</p><p>“We are tackling (these issues) one-by-one and as quickly as possible,” Horwitz said. </p><p>Garrison, Mayor Walt Maddox and other city officials ­acknowledged that they were unaware of the lengths the school board was going to reform Tuscaloosa city schools.</p><p>“Hopefully, 2015 and 2016 will be the time we see the results of some of the things you're doing,” Garrison said.</p><p>One key element of these changes is the transition next year to the Common Core system, a national standard for school curricula that was created by the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers to better prepare graduating high school students for either college or the modern workforce.</p><p>The city schools must engage this plan for the next school year after the Alabama Department of Education held two votes to adopt it, the second of which carried opposition from Gov. Robert Bentley.</p><p>Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Paul McKendrick along with Elisabeth Davis, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and others praised the Common Core plan, saying it stripped away some of the confusion that now comes with certain diploma paths and that it institutes new ways of learning for students in all grades.</p><p>The council heard a detailed overview of the plan from ­McKendrick and Davis. Some elements of the plan came as a surprise to certain council members.</p><p>Among these was the elimination of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, which will be administered to no graduating senior by the 2014-15 year. Instead, the students will be required to pass a series of end-of-course exams throughout high school while maintaining a certain level of academic performance in order to earn an honors, or advanced, diploma.</p><p>“With the new diplomas, there are no high-stakes tests involved,” Davis said, referring to the graduation exam.</p><p>Maddox said he was concerned about how the new Common Core curriculum would prepare career tech students in fields such as welding or drafting. His particular interest was whether the city schools would be adequately preparing a workforce for the growing automotive manufacturing and supply business that Tuscaloosa is nurturing.</p><p>City schools officials said the new curriculum was designed to prepare career tech students better than the existing curriculum, but the mayor did not say he was convinced and requested additional information about the program.</p><p>Maddox also was concerned with ensuring that middle school students, who are expected to face a much tougher curriculum next year than this one, do not fall behind.</p><p>“We have some tools to use and some strategies, but it's not going to happen overnight,” Davis told him. “It's going to take years, for both students and teachers.”</p><p>Additionally, both governmental agencies used the meeting to update the other on their respective plans for the new Alberta Elementary School.</p><p>City Hall is in the process of acquiring land for the school, which includes the use of the City Council's eminent domain powers when an agreement with the current property owner cannot be reached.</p><p>The school system is in the process of designing the new school, complete with an ambitious performing arts center and a parking lot of more than 300 spaces to accommodate it.</p><p>However, no feasibility study has been conducted to show how much operational costs, maintenance work and other requirements will go into the new center once it's built. Maddox offered to share all the information the city generated when it conducted its own feasibility study for the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.</p><p>“Two years ago, the city built a $16 million amphitheater,” Maddox told the board. “And it's a continual work in progress.”</p><p> </p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>